OPPENHEIMER – MOVIE REVIEW

Oppenheimer is an epic biographical thriller film written and directed by Christopher Nolan. Based on the 2005 biography American Prometheus by Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin, the film chronicles the life of J. Robert Oppenheimer, a theoretical physicist who was pivotal in developing the first nuclear weapons as part of the Manhattan Project, and thereby ushering in the Atomic Age.

OPPENHEIMER is 3 hours long, three hours of history, politics and science fraught with mind battles, PTSD, egos and treachery. It just isn’t a visual splendour but has reels of verbal communication that transgresses periods in a non linear screenplay. There are moments when there is nothing spoken but the camera transfixes on Cillian Murphy’s brilliant expression and it tells quite a tale. Though the film is about the protagonist it still has a tremendous story to tell about the various characters that are part of his incredible journey as they show various traits of love, care, deceit, and jealousy. The script is much more than just about an atomic bomb but a journey that traverses human emotions raising significant questions about science and its impact on human beings. The aesthetics might look indulgent and the characters perhaps a tad too bright, but it still plays out convincing. Like in most Nolan’s movies the story does slip into the background as he unleashes his technical wizardry in a not so usual film, but in this he uses his exemplary craft to extrapolate human emotions. OPPENHEIMER is not without flaws, despite its length and talkathon it still feels a bit all over the place. An assembly of ideas, thoughts and liberties that manage to keep you glued and invested.

The cast is extraordinary and delivers amazing award worthy performances. Cillain Murphy is simply brilliant. Robert Downey is majestic. Emily Blunt is wonderful while Matt Damon is fantastic.
Hoyte Van Hoytema’s cinematography is spent capturing the vast landscape or while tightening on those human faces. Ludwig Goransson’s musical score is a huge plus as it is enthralling in the background. Jennifer Lame’s editing is kaleidoscopic and is at your face persistently ruthless.

Dialogues are lucid and direction is splendid.

OPPENHEIMER is a big bang confluence of politics, history and some science !!!!

OPPENHEIMER – OPERA
4/5

B.U.Shreesha